Tubing connectors

Abstract

Sealing connectors for use in connecting tubing to tubing, tubing to needles or other implements, syringe to tubing, or syringe to needles or other implements that provide reduced turbulence and sharp transitions are described herein.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A sealing connector comprising:
 a first component comprising:
 a distal extension having a generally cylindrical shape and a distal bore providing a cylindrical cavity at a distal end of the distal extension; 
 a proximal cylindrical body coupled to the distal extension, the proximal cylindrical body having an outer diameter at least larger than an outer diameter of the distal extension; 
 a central bore having an open proximal end and an open distal end, the central bore traversing the proximal cylindrical body and the distal extension of the first component; 
 a tubing section disposed within the central bore; and 
 a transition fitting disposed within a portion of the central bore in the distal extension of the first component, the transition fitting abutting the tubing section; and 
 
 a second component comprising:
 a generally cylindrical body having a central bore defined therein, the central bore providing a cavity that accommodates the distal extension of the first component when the first component is connected to the second component; 
 a coupling platform disposed within the central bore of the generally cylindrical body of the second component, the coupling platform having a generally cylindrical shape and being sized to fit within the open distal end of the central bore of the first component; and 
 a sealing member connected to the second component and disposed within a circumferential channel between the coupling platform and an inner surface of the central bore of the generally cylindrical body of the second component such that the sealing member engages the coupling platform and the inner surface of the central bore of the generally cylindrical body, 
 wherein the transition fitting is interposed between the tubing section and the coupling platform and is in abutting connection with both the tubing section and the coupling platform when the first component is connected to the second component, and 
 wherein the sealing member is configured for minimizing a gap between the first component and the second component to prevent fluid from being trapped therebetween. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The sealing connector of  claim 1 , wherein the transition fitting defines an interface for mating the distal extension of the first component with the coupling platform of the second component. 
     
     
       3. The sealing connector of  claim 2 , wherein the transition fitting comprises a bore at least equal to or larger in diameter to a bore of the tubing section. 
     
     
       4. The sealing connector of  claim 3 , wherein the bore of the transition fitting is about 0.5% to about 10% larger in diameter than a diameter of the bore of the tubing section. 
     
     
       5. The sealing connector of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is an o-ring. 
     
     
       6. The sealing connector of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is molded into the second component. 
     
     
       7. The sealing connector of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is compressed by about 19% to about 32% in volume when the first component and the second component are coupled. 
     
     
       8. The sealing connector of  claim 1 , wherein the second component further comprises a gland disposed at a distal end of the circumferential channel and wherein the sealing member is disposed within the gland. 
     
     
       9. The sealing connector of  claim 8 , wherein the sealing member fills about 85% to about 98% of a total volume of the gland. 
     
     
       10. The sealing connector of  claim 1 , wherein a receiving conduit associated with one of the first component or the second component is positioned to receive fluid from an exit conduit associated with the other of the first component or the second component and the receiving conduit has a diameter that is equal to or larger than a diameter of the exit conduit. 
     
     
       11. The sealing connector of  claim 10 , wherein the diameter of the receiving conduit is about 0.5% to about 10% larger than the diameter of the exit conduit. 
     
     
       12. The sealing connector of  claim 10 , wherein the receiving conduit is tapered. 
     
     
       13. The sealing connector of  claim 1 , wherein the distal extension of the first component comprises lateral extensions and the inner surface of the central bore of the generally cylindrical body of the second component comprises grooves configured to receive the lateral extensions of the distal extension of the first component. 
     
     
       14. A sealing connector comprising:
 a first component comprising:
 a distal extension having a generally cylindrical shape and a distal bore providing a cylindrical cavity at a distal end of the distal extension; 
 a proximal cylindrical body coupled to the distal extension, the proximal cylindrical body having an outer diameter at least larger than an outer diameter of the distal extension; 
 a central bore having an open proximal end and an open distal end, the central bore traversing the proximal cylindrical body and the distal extension; and 
 a conduit disposed within the central bore; and 
 a transition fitting disposed within a portion of the central bore in the distal extension of the first component, the transition fitting abutting the conduit; and 
 
 a second component comprising:
 a generally cylindrical body having a central bore defined therein, the central bore providing a cavity that accommodates the distal extension of the first component when the first component is connected to the second component; 
 a needle disposed within an internal bore defined within and extending through the cylindrical body; and 
 a sealing member connected to the second component and disposed within a circumferential channel between a longitudinal outer surface of the needle and an inner surface of the central bore of the cylindrical body, 
 wherein the transition fitting is interposed between the conduit and the needle and is in abutting connection with both the conduit and the needle when the first component is connected to the second component, and 
 wherein the sealing member is configured for minimizing a gap between the first component and the second component to prevent fluid from being trapped therebetween. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The sealing connector of  claim 14 , wherein the second component further comprises a coupling cylinder disposed within the central bore of the second component, the coupling cylinder having a generally cylindrical shape and being sized to fit within the distal bore of the first component and the needle extending through the coupling cylinder. 
     
     
       16. The sealing connector of  claim 15 , wherein the needle extends beyond the coupling cylinder and at least a portion of the needle is received by the distal bore of the distal extension of the first component. 
     
     
       17. The sealing connector of  claim 14 , wherein the sealing member is an o-ring. 
     
     
       18. The sealing connector of  claim 14 , wherein the sealing member is molded into the second component. 
     
     
       19. The sealing connector of  claim 14 , wherein the sealing member is compressed by about 19% to about 32% in volume when the first component and the second component are coupled. 
     
     
       20. The sealing connector of  claim 14 , wherein the second component further comprises a gland disposed at a distal end of the circumferential channel and the sealing member is disposed within the gland. 
     
     
       21. The sealing connector of  claim 20 , wherein the sealing member fills about 85% to about 98% of a total volume of the gland. 
     
     
       22. The sealing connector of  claim 14 , wherein a receiving conduit associated with one of the first component or the second component is positioned to receive fluid from an exit conduit associated with the other of the first component or the second component and the receiving conduit has a diameter that is equal to or larger than a diameter of the exit conduit. 
     
     
       23. The sealing connector of  claim 22 , wherein the diameter of the receiving conduit is about 0.5% to about 10% larger than a diameter of the exit conduit. 
     
     
       24. The sealing connector of  claim 14 , wherein the distal extension of the first component comprises lateral extensions and the inner surface of the central bore of the generally cylindrical body of the second component comprises grooves configured to receive the lateral extensions of the distal extension of the first component. 
     
     
       25. A sealing connector comprising:
 a first component comprising:
 a distal extension having a central bore extending therethrough; 
 a proximal cylindrical body coupled to the distal extension, the proximal cylindrical body having an outer diameter at least larger than an outer diameter of the distal extension; 
 a conduit disposed within the central bore of the distal extension; and 
 a transition fitting disposed within a portion of the central bore, the transition fitting abutting the conduit and having a central channel in fluid communication with the conduit; and 
 
 a second component comprising:
 a generally cylindrical body having a central bore defined therein, the central bore providing a cavity that accommodates the distal extension of the first component when the first component is connected to the second component; 
 a coupling platform extending from the central bore of the generally cylindrical body; and 
 a sealing member connected to the second component and disposed between the coupling platform and an inner surface of the central bore of the generally cylindrical body, 
 wherein the transition fitting defines an interface for mating and providing an abutting connection with both the conduit in the central bore of the distal extension of the first component and the coupling platform of the second component.